Serbian Armed Forces

It is possible for it to be an upgrade, but it would be very tough to actually build it... The hull and chassis is ba lengthed version of the M-90 Vihor's, which itself was already a significant modification of the M-84.

UAE investments in SerbiaAn agreement worth up to $200mn was signed between the Serbian arms company Yugoimport SDPR and the UAE’s Emirates Advanced Research and Technology Holding (EARTH) at the International Defence Exhibition in Abu Dhabi last year.

A source in Serbia told MEE the investment relates to the Serbian missile system ALAS (Advanced Light Attack System), which is a “multipurpose anti-armour weapon with effective range up to 60km”. The source said the UAE is interested in these missiles because “they should be able to destroy all existing models of tanks in the world”.

The UAE is the fourth largest arms importer in the world, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, and spent over $19bn on military equipment in 2012. With a national population of fewer than one million the UAE, in terms of arms per capita, is now widely viewed as being the most heavily armed nation on the planet.

The UAE-Serbian defence relationship is becoming increasingly close, according to the Serbian source, who said “initial forms of cooperation have been established at the level of military security agencies, military police and special units, and in the fields of information and communication technologies and cyber defence”.

While the source said the UAE is primarily interested in Serbia’s burgeoning defence industry, the Emiratis have also made numerous other investments across several industries.

One of the most prominent deals has been Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways buying a 49 percent stake in Serbia’s lossmaking JAT Airways in August 2013. A new company was born out of that investment, Air Serbia, with the stated aim of creating an eastern European transportation sub-hub.

- See more at: http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/uaes-shadowy-dealings-serbia-44700108#sthash.eyqYD9Vs.dpuf

Currently, the Serbian army uses the Soviet-made SA-6 Gainful (2K12 KUB) as standard air defense missile system. At Partner 2015, the International Defense Exhibition in Belgrade, the Serbian Defense Company Litaktak presents an upgraded version of the standard SA-6 under the name of Kvadrat-ML or 2K12-ML.

The upgraded 2K12-ML Surface-To-Air (SAM) System (Kvadrat-ML) features improved performance and extended functional capabilities due to new algorithms of data processing and displaying, digital signal processing with software based MTI and automatic data readout and processing. 2K12-ML is offered as the upgraded follow-on to 2K12M1.

The new 2K12 upgrade is able to detect and destroy low-flying targets including VLO (“stealth”). Improved operation in jamming conditions, in presence of reflections from underlying surface.

Equipment is designed to continuously operate for 48 hours with one hour rest time;All components, panels, units and modules are designed as replaceable units and can be easily replaced with spare ones.

System provides automatic operational monitoring and functional check. Checks are performed each time Engagement Radar Vehicle starts or at any time as requested by operator.

System is equipped with the simulator enabling training of combat crews in realistic conditions including simulation of ECM (Electronic countermeasure) applied by the enemy.

The new system is able to detect aircraft at a maximum altitude of 7 km to a maximum range 100 km. It can also detect cruise missile at a maximum altitude from 3 to 7 km at a maximum range of 25 km. The 2K12-ML can destroy target from a minimum range of 3.4 km to a maximum range 25 km with an altitude from 250 m to 14 km.

Officially in service in the Serbian armed forces since 2012, the Bumbar (Bumble-bee) always attracts much attention from visitors and foreign delegations when it is showcased at defense shows. At PARTNER 2015, the Bumbar is particulary highlighted on Serbian army's display. The Bumbar is a short-range portable anti-tank missile system developed and produced by the Serbian company Krusik.

The Bumbar is a wire guided, man-portable, short-ranged missile system for use against ground targets. The missile has a soft launch capability - the main motor firing after the missile has left the launcher, which allows for the missile to be fired from confined spaces, which is a necessity in urban warfare. During the flight rocket is maneuvered by unique system of thrust vectoring.

The Bumbar features tandem hollow charge warhead, capable to destroy modern tanks with reactive homogenous armor. It is also equipped with SACLOS guidance (Semi-automatic command to line of sight), improved anti-jamming protection based on sequential frames differential processing, and frequency, time and space discrimination.

Bumbar guided missile has all terrains fighting capabilities including urban areas, missile can be launched from confined space. The launcher can be shoulder mounted or fitted on a tripod. The weapon has a total weight of 19.8 kg, the tripod and the firing post weight 4 kg each. It has a maximum range of 600 m and a hit probability of 90%.

The missile is propelled by two main rocket motor exhaust vanes located at mid body. As the missile rotates the launch units send signals commanding the correction by one of the two vanes to move against the missile motors thrust. For example if the missile has to move to the left, the right thrust vector vane will actuate at the correct time. The warhead penetration is over 1000 mm RHA behind ERA. The missile has a speed of 18 m/s at launch and 245 m/s at maximum.

The Bumbar missile system is currently being improved in order to increase maximum range up to 1,000 m and with the addition of a laser beam riding.

Bumbar guided missile system can be mounted on shoulder or on a tripod, here showcased on Serbian army's booth at PARTNER 2015

Bumbar's launching system and missile on Krusik display at PARTNER 2015

During PARTNER 2015, the Serbia-based company EDePro presented a new variant of its Advanced Light Attack System (ALAS) dedicated to coastal defense. The ALAS-C (Advanced Light Attack System-Coastal) is a fire & forget multipurpose weapon system, intended for coastal defense and OTHT (Over-The-Horizon Targeting) in all operations occuring in naval environment.

The original ALAS system was developed from the Long-Range Advanced Non Line-of-Sight Attack System (LORANA), which was conceived as a long-range, wire-guided, anti-tank missile with a solid motor.

However, interest from the UAE led to the weapon being developed into a land-based, light anti-ship missile with a turbojet motor that pushes its range out to 25 kilometres. The new version is the product of a joint development and integration agreement with Emirates Advanced Research & Technology Holding (EARTH) that was announced at IDEX 201 defense exhibition.

The ALAS-C is highly effective in missions to destroy/incapacitate inflatable boats and small vessels within maximum range of 25 km.

EDePRo's ALAS-C missile is a cable guided missile that in real time links electro optical sensor (TV CCD or IIR homing head) mounted on the nose section of the missile to the operator on the ground via an optical fiber in the real time. This fiber optics technology allows the operator to engage the target from non-line-of site positions, and to continuously watch it through the electro optical sensors of the approaching missile.

The terminal attack phase is based on an autonomous terminal guidance using advanced TV/IIR homing head with improved target selection capabilities in complex scenarios. The ALAS-C has a weight of 67 kg. It is fitted with a 10kg blast fragmentation warhead.

The capabilities of ALAS-C missile (short reaction time, Fire and Forget, INS/GPS navigation, high target selection, and warhead lethality) allow the system to operate effectively in littoral warfare environments, as well as in blue waters within a reaction time of less than one minute. It flies at an altitude between 50 m and 1,000 m to make it harder to detect.

ALAS-C missile can be launched from land vehicles, small ships or helicopters. A battery of ALAS-C systems will be equipped with a vehicle-mounted radar and electrical-optical sensors to acquire targets. A launcher vehicle will then fire one of its six missiles in the direction of the target. As the missile approaches, the operator can verify the target using the feed from its electro-optical sensor, which can be either a TV or infrared camera, depending on the situation.

They've got some interesting projects but it all requires substantial government investment which so far hasn't been forthcoming. Occasionaly they've scored a few export contracts which is what has kept things going.

As far as this new M-20 MBT concept goes, it's by an independent company which includes some of the people that took part in the M-84 project back in the 1980's so it's not an official government project. They believe it's feasible IF the government is serious about rebuilding the military industry. The tank is to feature a few novelties (such as a advanced exhaust system for low IR signature) and is suppose to be eqipped with modified Relikt ERA and have the 2A46M-5 125mm gun

Mike E wrote:The M5 gun would be a step in the wrong direction for a new platform... Maybe Russia could give them the license for the 2A82-1M.

It will be interesting to see what ammunition it fires...

The 2A82-1M is not even fielded yet by Russia. Would be kinda odd to give a competitor a state of the art cannon system. Then again, it seems to feature a modified Relikt ERA so I assume they have license for that. I would like to see 2A82-1M used on more than one platform of course though.

That said, this tank looks quite amazing, and depending on the price, could be a great alternative for many countries to field a fairly modern tank. Especially when the only real competition t Russia's price to performance is the Chinese MBT2000/3000 tanks which of course, are not really that satisfactory in performance/quality from what I hear.

True... Serbia could also perform an indigenous upgrade with a longer barrel and higher pressure chamber. Though once again, everything boils down to the ammunition. Unless they get their hands on Vacuum (which they... absolutely shouldn't), Serbia will be stuck with older rounds or the process of developing a new one.

For the export market this vehicle will be a game changer, especially if Russia witholds the export of T-14 for a while.

George1 wrote:Source: Army of Serbia does not have a single fighter jet in working condition

Not surprising. The Serbs suffered heavily at the hands of NATO in the Kosovo war. More than 10,000 Serbian army regulars were killed and the major portion of their air force was wiped off.

Even today that country is in complete ruins and unemployment is rife. A number of Serbs are therefore forced to work in the UK. There is a large population of migrant Serb workers in London.

10.000? Emm.. no, 631 soldier, somewhat above 300 policemen (PJP as those units were dubbed) and around 2000 civilians. And when its about country being in ruins.. one big fkn no. Except some major bridges everything was cleared and repaired in terms of months. Only Military Headquarters in Belgrade were kept in original state as a reminder of bombing. Most of the military instalations that were bombed were outside of urban areas. And unemployment is kinda same as in every country in this region.

Mike E wrote:True... Serbia could also perform an indigenous upgrade with a longer barrel and higher pressure chamber. Though once again, everything boils down to the ammunition. Unless they get their hands on Vacuum (which they... absolutely shouldn't), Serbia will be stuck with older rounds or the process of developing a new one.

For the export market this vehicle will be a game changer, especially if Russia witholds the export of T-14 for a while.

Sadly i doubt there is any chance of getting funds for Serbian tank fleet update even regular overhauls and maintenance are in question atm due to fact many factories that produced spares for them do not exist anymore, or they are abroad in ex Yugoslav republics, some changed field of work, some disappeared... etc. And from what i saw on Serbian forums regarding this "independent development" of a "new" tank its just some journalists imagination sadly.

"Serbia’s Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said on Sunday weapons supplies will be one of the topics for discussion during his visit to Russia due to take place next week, announced the russian news agency TASS. "When we manufacture the Nora howitzer we need Kamaz frames that are capable of carrying more than 35 tonnes, and this is one of the grounds for talks with the Russians. Second topic is the artillery gun 2A42 we install on the Lazar armoured vehicle," he told journalists.

According to Vucic, his country has already ordered two transport helicopters from Russia. "Now we will have to and we have already begun to look at buying combat helicopters, because some of our neighbours have already received 16 Kiowa helicopters," he said [The US Congress approved supplies of 16 such helicopters to Croatia this year - TASS]. "We have to think about response in terms of ballistic missiles, though we seek no conflicts anywhere, with anyone ever. But we are simply to be prepared and are to know that Serbia has relevant forces for anyone who might think Serbia is an easy game," the Serbian prime minister stressed.

He said Serbia was keeping a close eye on what was going on in neighbouring countries and "cannot allow any violation of the balance of forces in the region." Although "Serbia is a small country and a small nation," it will always have as much means of defense as necessary, "so that no one could ever think of using force against Serbia," Vucic said, adding that his country’s government was tightly working on that matter."

I do not belive we really will buy "combat helicopters" as this guy said, since atm we have issues funding these two Mi17 transports. And we are almost close to having no operational An26 wich will kill our transport fleet completely. Let alone "balistic missiles". If by some miracle we do get some kind of loan for combat helicopters i got no clue what we could possibly get.. Mi28s and KA52s are way too expencive for us especially in amounts of 10+.

Maybe Ansat armed recon variant Ansat 2RC... but who would make series of dozen helicopters when there are no other customers.

Werewolf wrote:2A42 an artillery gun? Then 2B9 is an APSDS intented gun.

They quoted him, and he is not really...into weapons. He finished Law college, he repeats what military "guys" tell him. I guess he assumed if its a cannon that it has to be an artillery. Word "top" (cannon) here is associated with...field gun lets say, i doubt he can tell the difference between howtizer and field gun for that matter.

I thought I had seen a Serbian Military thread but can't locate. Switch this if there is. An article on the Serbian Special Forces;https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http://warfiles.ru/show-99488-o-specnaze-serbii.html&usg=ALkJrhhbjphII2Xudru_9ZJNIbPGFCT6OQ

"BELGRADE - A major anti-terrorism drill dubbed “Shield” began in Belgrade at 11 a.m. on Saturday, demonstrating how special units would resolve a hostage crisis at Belgrade Airport and the main railway station, with the central exercise held in front of the Palace of Serbia. Several hundred members of the counter-terrorism battalion Falcons, and the military police special operation battalion Cobras, 204th air force brigade, guard, river flotilla, gendarmerie and the Security Information Agency are taking part in the counter-terrorism exercise. Serbian PM Aleksandar Vucic, government officials, President of Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik, top military and police officials, diplomats and a large number of citizens are watching the drill.

The demonstration exercise is aimed at showing Serbia's preparedness and resolve in the fight against terrorism.

PM commends courage, preparedness of Serbian security forces

BELGRADE - Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic noted that in Saturday's anti-terrorism drill the Serbian security forces had demonstrated courage, resolve and top preparedness for protecting the country from possible terror attacks. “Citizens could see how fast we would respond. I congratulate you on the excellent demonstration exercise,” Vucic told a news conference after “Shield 2015” had been conducted at several locations in Belgrade. According to the prime minister, the security forces showed top readiness in extremely complex conditions, but also unity and collaboration, given that the units had not joined forces previously. Vucic noted that over 700 members of the interior ministry, Security Information Agency (BIA) and the Serbian Armed Forces had participated in the counter-terrorism exercise."